Gare de Rive-de-Gier. Albumen print, Getty Museum. Public domain photograph.

Auguste Hippolyte Collard was a French painter born in Paris in 1812. He was a pupil of the famous French painter Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and became known for his portraits and history paintings. Collard exhibited his work at the Paris Salon from 1835 to 1861 and received many prizes and honours for his paintings. He was made a member of the Legion of Honour in 1867. Collard's paintings are characterised by their attention to detail, use of bright colours and realistic depictions of his subjects. His portraits often captured the personality and character of his sitters, while his historical paintings depicted scenes from French history with accuracy and drama. Although popular during his lifetime, Collard's work fell out of favour in the late 19th century and he died in relative obscurity around 1897. Today, his paintings can be found in museums and private collections around the world.